No 'sugar-coating' Rangers' dismay as rival Angels get Josh Hamilton

3/11

VERNON BRYANT/Staff Photographer

9. Two-homer game against the Yankees in Game 4 of 2010 ALCS; October 19, 2010: Bengie Molina's three-run shot off A.J. Burnett is what most remember from this crucial game that put the Rangers in control of their first-ever ALCS, but Hamilton's two blasts did three things: it tied an LCS record, it ensured that the Yankees would pitch around him the rest of the series (Hamilton was intentionally walked three times in the deciding game), and it cinched up the ALCS MVP award for Hamilton, who finished the series with a .350/.536/1.000 slash line and four home runs in six games.

All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton, an
integral part of two World Series clubs, surprised and disappointed the Rangers
on Thursday by agreeing to a deal with the
American League West rival Los Angeles Angels.

The Rangers believed Hamilton
would explore the free-agent market to determine his worth and get back to the
club for negotiations before making a decision. The sides cut off talks in
January after Hamilton
had a relapse in his fight against drug and alcohol addiction for the second
time in four years.

The Rangers had scheduled a meeting with Mike Moye, who
represents Hamilton,
on Thursday evening. Instead, Moye called
general manager Jon Daniels during a luncheon to tell him that Hamilton had accepted a five-year deal worth
a guaranteed $125 million.

Moye said the Rangers were never told they would be given the
right to match offers received, and media reports of that arrangement were
incorrect. Daniels did not indicate if the Rangers would have matched the
Angels’ offer had it been given the chance but stressed the club wanted him to return.

“Josh has done a lot for the organization,’’ Daniels said. ``The
organization has done a lot for Josh, a lot of things that aren’t public and
things of that nature. I’m a little disappointed in how it was handled, but he
had a decision to make.’’

Hamilton
could not be reached for comment. The Angels will not acknowledge the deal
until Hamilton
passes a physical. He is expected to take the physical on Friday.

"There’s no sugar-coating it," Daniels said. "We wanted the player back, and he signed with the Angels. They’re better now.’’

The Rangers began to sense Hamilton would leave the club during last week’s session with him and Moye during the winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn. Hamilton said ``he felt it might be time for him to move on,’’ according to Daniels, who declined to give the reasons behind that sentiment.

At that meeting, the Rangers made two proposals. One was a specific contract offer that Daniels said was for fewer years and less guaranteed money than Hamilton will receive from the Angels. According to two major-league officials, the offer was believed to be four years for a guaranteed $108 million.

Daniels said the club also raised a "concept … an idea of something we wanted to do." Daniels did not elaborate on the idea.

Hamilton’s age (31) and durability were concerns for the Rangers. In five seasons with the club he appeared in 150-plus games only once. He tied for 80th in games played in the majors during that span with 647 out of a possible 810.

Hamilton is also enrolled in Major League Baseball’s after-care program. He runs the risk of a suspension with another drug or alcohol relapse.

"We had reasons that we hesitated to go longer in term," Daniels said. "Whether we’re right or not, that will play out."

Hamilton led the Rangers to their first World Series appearance in 2010, when he won the American League Most Valuable Player award for hitting a league-high .359 with 32 homers and 100 RBIs. Hamilton made the AL All-Star team in each season with the Rangers and also led the league in RBIs with 130 in 2008. The club returned to the World Series in 2011.

On May 8, Hamilton had the single biggest offensive game in club history. He had four homers, eight RBIs and 18 total bases in a 10-3 win at Baltimore

That was the centerpiece of an explosive first two months, during which Hamilton hit .368 with 21 homers and 57 RBIs in 182 at-bats. He markedly declined after that, hitting .245 with 22 homers and 71 RBIs for 380- at-bats in the final four months.

In his final game with the Rangers, a wild-card loss to Baltimore, Hamilton made five outs and saw only eight pitches in a 0-for-4 performance.

"We still have a very good nucleus, " Daniels said. "But he’s been a big part of the club, and now he’s on the other side."

The move to the Angels puts Hamilton near Hollywood, where plans are underway for a biopic on his life. Hamilton travelled to California ahead of the team and received the full Hollywood treatment on Sept. 17. The next day, Hamilton came out during a game at the Angels because of a vision problem that forced him to miss five games.

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